Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Calls Out Team's Linebackers After Embarrassing Defensive Effort In Week 7

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season with a tight loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The score was 33-31 in a game that featured back and forth lead changes and plenty of exciting moments on the offensive side of the ball for both teams. However, the Steelers greatest strength to start the season has been on the defensive side of the ball, as they are one of seven teams in the NFL with over 10 takeaways, while also having the eighth fewest giveaways in the league. The Bengals were able to move the ball all over this top defense with ease on Thursday night, prompting many to question where this unit had been all night while the Bengals seemingly moved with minimal to no resistance down the field.

A few of the questions that were asked regarding the apparent lack of defensive effort on Thursday night were proposed by former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the latest episode of his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, where he pointed out not just the overall poor showing overall, but specifically pointed out two players in particular: linebackers Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson

On the latest episode of Footbahlin, Roethlisberger goes into detail on how Queen and Wilson being unable to generate pressure led to others having to attempt to step up to pick up the slack. His overall comments were brutally honest, and speak volumes for just how important he believes it is for the defense as a whole to play well and get pressure on the opposing quarterback.

"Typically, when you have a really good team, you can afford for a guy or two to have a bad day, because other guys pick them up," Roethlisberger said. "It feels like right now, this game, Queen didn't play very well, Wilson didn't play very well, games before they played really well, but the other guys covered them up. It felt like, the last game, there wasn't that cover up for some reason."

Roethlisberger's critique of Queen and Wilson are just a portion of his overall comments regarding the state of the defense after the Bengals scored 33 points against them. Even though the Steelers' defense has put together some impressive games in recent weeks, this showing against the Bengals provides a low point that brings comments like Roethlisberger's, especially seeing as the Bengals' offense is one that the Steelers' defense is built towards stopping -- and failed to do so. 

This defense is still incredibly talented despite the poor showing against the Bengals, but there's no doubt that Roethlisberger's comments are ones that shouldn't be taken lightly. Prior to the upcoming game for the Steelers, a primetime Sunday Night Football matchup against the Green Bay Packers, the defense will need to ensure everyone is on the same page and that slack is picked up by others, in case any other player has a particularly bad night.

Steelers Need To Right The Ship On Defense Soon

The Steelers' schedule doesn't get any easier throughout the season, and especially not through the next four weeks. Starting with the primetime matchup against the Packers, the Steelers need to find a way to right the ship on defense, and quickly. The Bengals might have a strong offense, but there are much more capable offenses coming up, and if the Steelers could barely get pressure on the Bengals, then it could lead to much worse against teams with even stronger offenses down the line. However, for consolation, the defense has performed well against opponents earlier in the year, and with the amount of great players all over the defense, the outlook is promising that the unit will right the ship sooner rather than later.

What did you think about Roethlisberger's comments regarding the failure of others to step up on defense to make up for Queen and Wilson not playing well? Let us know in the comments or on X at @SteelersSwamp7.

#SteelerNation